IT'S amazing to think that millions of people will be flocking towards Charlton shortly.

Just up from The Valley, the Millenium Dome perches incongruously like some alien spaceship among the derelict Docklands.

But how will Rovers fans see in the new century? Strutting their stuff against the fancy dans at Stamford Bridge? Or grappling with an east coast gale at Grimsby?

Charlton are heading out of the top flight. Their fans knew as much as they melted silently into the South London streets on Saturday. "The 'Addicks have 'ad it" was their verdict. They looked a poor team with precious little quality where it matters in the Premiership - up front. (A cynic would say they must have an inept forward line to manage no goals in three matches against Rovers this season!)

But for all that, whether you blame fate, Keith Gillespie's radar, or Gary Willard's eyesight, Rovers failed to sink Charlton on the day, failed to make their superior strike force count, failed to win. So the blue and white army left silently too.

The long journey home from London SE7 provided ample opportunity to reflect on another away defeat averted, but another away victory avoided.

Coming out of the Blackwall Tunnel, I took a wrong turn - a bit like Rovers, I thought.

When we won at Villa Park in early February, Brian Kidd's first two months in charge had seen us rise to 15th place, almost out of the relegation tunnel. That week had also seen the final throes of the Sherwood saga and, one of the major reasons to my mind that the Rovers engine has spluttered fitfully ever since.

Though he departed under a cloud, his abilities (not least near the opposition goal) have been sorely missed.

The trek home up the M6 offered some further reminders of our current predicament. On one side, the lush pastures of Coventry and Villa, on the other the discomfort and harsh realities of potential trips to Walsall and Port Vale.

For the final leg of this season's journey, I just hope the fans can lift the players to a victory over Forest.

Hopefully we can drum up some fervour without needing to resort to a guy with a microphone whipping up the crowd into artificial enthusiasm, even before the teams come on the pitch. It happened at The Valley. And it didn't work!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.